आकर्ण्य विप्रवाक्यानि विप्रमूचुर्वरस्त्रियः । सकलध्वनिसोत्कंठ्यो कोकिलाइव माधवे
Hearing the Brahmin’s words, the noble women replied, longing with all their hearts, like cuckoos in spring.
धर्मादर्थोऽर्थतः कामः कामात्सुखफलोदयः । इत्येवं निश्चयज्ञास्ते वर्णयंति विपश्चितः
From dharma comes wealth, from wealth comes desire, and from desire arises the fruit of happiness—thus the wise, certain in knowledge, describe it.
सकामो धर्मबाहुल्यात्पुरतस्ते समुत्थितः । सेव्यतां विविधैर्भोगैः स्वच्छाभूमिरियं यतः
One who desires, having an abundance of dharma, has arisen before you; therefore, enjoy this pure land with various pleasures.
श्रुत्वा तद्वचनं तासां प्राह गंभीरया गिरा । तथ्यं वो वचनं किंतु ममाप्यावश्यकं व्रतम्
Hearing those words of theirs, he spoke with a deep voice: 'Your words are true, but my vow is also necessary for me.'
प्राप्यानुज्ञां गुरोः कुर्वे विवाहकर्म नान्यथा । इत्युक्ताः पुनरूचुस्ताः स्फुटं मूढोऽसि सुंदर
Having obtained the teacher’s permission, I will perform the marriage rite, not otherwise.' Thus addressed, they replied again: 'You are clearly foolish, O handsome one.'
सिद्धौषधं ब्रह्मधिया रसायनं सिद्धिर्निधिः साधुकुला वरांगनाः । मंत्रस्तथा सिद्धरसश्च धर्मतो मुने निषेव्याः सुधिया समागताः
A perfected medicine, an elixir for the mind devoted to Brahman, accomplishment, treasure, noble families, excellent women, mantra, and perfected essence—when these are gathered, O sage, they should be enjoyed by the wise according to dharma.
कार्यं नु दैवाद्यदि सिद्धिमागतं तस्मिन्नुपेक्षां न च यांति नीतिगाः । यस्मादुपेक्षा न पुनः फलप्रदा तस्मान्न दीर्घीकरणं प्रशस्यते
If a task, by fate, brings success, then the wise do not neglect it; for neglect does not yield fruit again, therefore, delay is not praised.
विषादप्यमृतं ग्राह्यममेध्यादपि कांचनम् । नीचादप्युत्तमां विद्यां स्त्रीरत्नं दुष्कुलादपि
Nectar should be taken even from poison, gold even from impurity, excellent knowledge even from a low-born, and a jewel of a woman even from a bad family.
सांद्रानुरागाः कुलजन्मनिर्मलाः स्नेहार्द्रचित्ता सुगिरः स्वयंवराः । कन्या सुरूपाः खलु चारुयौवना धन्या लभंतेऽत्र नरास्तु नेतरे
Girls who are deeply affectionate, of pure lineage, tender-hearted, sweet-spoken, self-choosing, beautiful in form, and in the bloom of youth—truly, only fortunate men obtain them here, not others.
क्व वयं सुरसुंदर्य्यः क्व भवांस्तापसो बटुः । दुर्घटस्य विधानेन मन्ये धातैव पंडितः
Where are we, divine beauties, and where are you, an ascetic youth? By the arrangement of the unattainable, I think the Creator alone is wise.
तस्मादस्मानिदानीं तु स्वीकुर्य्यात्मंगलं भवान् । गांधर्वेण विवाहेन अन्यथा नोपजीवनम्
Therefore, now, accept your own good fortune, sir, by Gandharva marriage; otherwise, there will be no livelihood.
श्रुत्वा वाक्यं ततः प्राह ब्राह्मणो धर्मवित्तमः । भो मृगाक्ष्यः कथं त्याज्यो धर्मो धर्मधनैर्नरैः
Hearing their words, the Brahmin, best knower of dharma, replied: 'O doe-eyed ones, how can dharma be abandoned by men for the sake of wealth?'
धर्मश्चार्थश्चकामश्च मोक्षश्चैतच्चतुष्टयम् । यथोक्तं फलदं ज्ञेयं विपरीतं तु निष्फलम्
Dharma, wealth, desire, and liberation—these four, as stated, are to be known as fruitful; the contrary is fruitless.
नाकालेऽहं व्रती कुर्यामतो दारपरिग्रहम् । न क्रिया फलमाप्नोति क्रियाकालं न वेत्ति यः
I will not, out of season, as one under vow, take a wife; for an act does not bear fruit if one does not know the proper time for it.
यतो धर्मविचारेऽस्मिन्प्रसक्तं मम मानसम् । तस्माच्छृणुत हे कन्या न समीहे स्वयंवरम्
Because my mind is absorbed in the consideration of dharma in this matter, therefore, O maidens, listen: I do not desire a svayamvara.
एवं ज्ञात्वाशयं तस्य समीक्ष्यैव परस्परम् । करात्करं विमुच्याथ जग्राहांघ्रिं प्रमोहिनी
Understanding his intention in this way, and having observed each other, Pramohinī released his hand and then grasped his feet.
भुजौ जगृहतुस्तस्य सुशीला सुस्वरा तथा । आलिलिंग सुतारा च वक्त्रं चुंबति चंद्रिका
Suśīlā and Susvarā took hold of his arms; Sutārā embraced him, and Candrikā kissed his face.
तथापि निर्विकारोऽसौ प्रलयानलसन्निभः । शशाप ब्रह्मचारी ताः क्रोधेनात्यंतमूर्छितः
Yet, he remained unmoved, like the fire at the end of the world; the brahmacārin, overwhelmed with anger, cursed them.
पिशाच्य इव मां लग्ना तत्पिशाच्यो भविष्यथ । एवं तेनाशु शप्तास्तास्तं त्यक्त्वा पुरतः स्थिताः
You have clung to me like piśācis—therefore, you shall become piśācis! Thus, having quickly cursed them, he stood before them.
किमेतच्चेष्टितं पापं ह्यनागसि विचेष्टया । प्रियंकृतोऽप्रियंकृत्वा धिक्त्वां धर्मकृतांतकम्
What is this sinful act you have done to one who is blameless? You have done what is hateful to one who showed you favor—shame on you, destroyers of dharma!
अनुरक्तेषु भक्तेषु मित्रेषु द्रोहकारिणः । पुंसो लोकोभयोः सौख्यं नाशमेतीति नः श्रुतम्
It is heard that happiness is destroyed in both worlds for a man who betrays those who love, are devoted, or are friends.
तस्मात्त्वमपि नः शापात्पिशाचो भव सत्वरम् । इत्युक्त्वापि च ता बाला निःश्वसंत्यः क्रुधाकुलाः
Therefore, you too, because of our curse, become a piśāca at once! Saying this, the girls, agitated with anger, sighed deeply.
तदेवान्योन्यसंरंभात्तस्मिन्सरसि पार्थिव । ताः कन्या ब्रह्मचारी च सर्वे पैशाच्यमागताः
Then, due to their mutual anger, in that very lake, O king, all those maidens and the brahmacārin became piśācas.
स पिशाचः पिशाच्यस्ताः क्रंदमानाः सुदारुणम् । क्षपयंति विपाकांस्तान्पूर्वोपात्तस्य कर्म्मणः
He became a piśāca, and they became piśācis, wailing terribly; they experience the results of their previous actions.
स्वकाले प्रभवत्येव पूर्वोपात्तं शुभाशुभम् । स्वच्छायामिव दुर्वारं देवानामपि पार्थिव
At its proper time, the good or bad previously committed surely bears fruit, O king, as inescapable as one's own shadow, even for the gods.
क्रंदंति पितरस्तासां मातरस्तत्र तत्र च । भ्रातरश्चैव बालानां दैवं हि दुरतिक्रमम्
The fathers and mothers of those girls, and their brothers too, cry out here and there; for fate is hard to overcome.
अतऊर्ध्वं पिशाचास्ते आहारार्थं सुदुःखिताः । इतस्ततश्च धावंतो वसंति सरसस्तटे
From then on, those piśācas, greatly distressed for food, roam here and there and dwell on the shore of the lake.
नारद उवाच- एवं बहुतिथे काले लोमशो मुनिसत्तमः । आगतश्च महाभागस्तत्र यादृच्छिको मुनि
Nārada said: After a long time had passed, the eminent sage Lomaśa, greatly fortunate, arrived there by chance.
तं दृष्ट्वा ब्राह्मणं सर्वे पिशाचाः क्षुत्समाकुलाः । धावंतो ह्यत्तुकामास्ते मिलित्वा यूथवर्तिनः
Seeing that brāhmaṇa, all the piśācas, tormented by hunger, rushed together in a group, desiring to eat.
दह्यमानास्तु तीव्रेण तेजसा लोमशस्य तु । असमर्थाः पुरः स्थातुं ते सर्वे दूरतः स्थिताः
But, scorched by the intense radiance of Lomaśa, they were unable to stand before him and all stood at a distance.